Sieves or screens for confectionery casting machines



Nov. 28, 1961 A. A. TUNLEY 3,010,412

SIEVES OR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24. 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 am WM @144W M,

A. A. TUNLEY Nov. 28, 1961 SIEVES OR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24. 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. A. TUNLEY Nov. 28, 1961 SIEVES OR SCREENS FOR CONF'EICTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 un-0. v-M M A. TUNLEY SIEIVES OR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. A. TUNLEY Nov. 28, 1961 SIEVES OR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24. 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 A. A. TUNLEY Nov. 28, 1961 SIEVES OR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24. 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 MWM A. A. TUNLEY Nov. 2s, 1961 SIEVES OR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 24. 1959 A. A. TUNLEY Nov. 28, 1961 SIEVES R SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 www Nov. 28, 1961 A. A. TUNLEY 3,010,412

SIEVES OR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 24. 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 United States Patent l 3,010,412 SIEVES GR SCREENS FOR CONFECTIONERY CASTING MACHINES I Allan Ashmead Tunley, Peterborough, England, asslgnor to Baker Perkins Limited, Peterborough, England Filed Aug. 24, 1959, Ser. No. $35,569

Ciaims priority, application Great Britam Aug. 28, 1958 7 Claims. (Cl. 107--44) This invention relates to the mounting of sieves or screens in confectionery casting machines of the type (sometimes called Master or Mogul machines) employing powdered starch as a mould medium, `the sieves or screens being for the purpose of separating the starch from the confectionery articles moulded therein.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting arrangement for sieves or screens in confectionery casting machines of the type indicated, which provides for quick and convenient access to the sieves or screens for inspection, cleaning or replacement and which further avoids or greatly reduces the space adjacent the machine necessary for carrying ou-t inspection, cleaning or replacement of the sieves or screens.

The invention consists in a mounting for sieve or screen means in Va confectionery casting machine of the type indicated comprising la rigid framework adapted to support a plurality of successively aligned sieve or screen means each carried on a sub-frame, the sub-frames being slidable into and out of the framework in a plane in the framework, and means for supporting the framework in the machine so that the framework can be bodily displaced into and out of Iits operative position in the machine 1by movement transverse lto the direction of alignment of the sieve or screen means.

According to one convenient embodiment of the present invention, the framework consists of spaced longitudinal members secured rigidly apart by transverse members and the machine structure has extensible rails or like bearer members on which the yframework can be displaced at right angles to its longitudinal extent to the side of the machine for access. The sub-frames carrying the sieve or screen means, which may comprise in known manner a mesh screen lfor initial separation of free starch, brush or bristle means formed into screenlike arrangement for cleaning the confections of adherent starch and further ya mesh screen, for separation of tailings, underlyin-g the brush or bristle means, are received on runners or in channels extending along the inner side of the longitudinal members of fthe framework so that the subframes can be inserted or removed successively in order by sliding them along the runners or channels on the longitudinal members.

Since the sieve or screen means in confectionery casting machines of the -type indicated are conventionally vibrated or reciprocated by means connected to the framework carrying the sieve or screen means, provision is made for readily disconnecting the vibrating or reciprocating means Afrom the framework when the latter is to be removed as described above.

In the `accompanying drawings:

FIGURES l and la together comprise a side elevation, partly in outline only, of a confectionery casting machine having sieving `and screening means according to the present invention,

FIGURES 2 and 2a together comprise a plan view of the sieving and screening means shown in FIGURES l and la.

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a confectionery casting machine showing the sieving and screening ICC means withdrawn for cleaning, maintenance or other purposes according to the present invention,

FIGURES 5 and 5a together 'comprise =a side elevation of means for displaceably supporting the sieving and screening means, v

FIGURES 6 and 6a together comprise a plan view of the means shown in FIGURES 5 and 5a, and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 6a.

In carrying the invention into eifect according to one mode, by way of example, the mounting means for the sieves or screens in a confectionery casting machine is shown -in a confectionery casting machine of generally conventional type which is sometimes called a Master or Mogul machine, which employs powdered starchV as a mould medium. Confectionery casting machines of this type include complex machinery for handling the starch trays and for manipulating the starch and since sch are well known it is not proposed -to describe them in detail. By way of a general description of the machine, however, see FIGURES 1 and la in which the main part of the machine is only shown in outline, stacked trays 1 each containing starch with the confectionery articles moulded therein, are fed -to the righthand end of the machine fand are passed one by one along a treatment level indicated by the chain-dotted line 2. The trays pass in succession `through la Zone A in which each tray is inverted or tipped so that its contents, starch and confectionery articles, fall out of the tray onto s-ieving and screening means, indicated at 3, located below the zone A and following zones and described in detail hereafter. n

The trays are each righted and passed to zone B wherein the trays are filled with powdered starch. The starch for this purpose is recovered from `beneath the sieving and screening means 3 by means of a conveyor 4, indicated by the chain-dotted lines yand by the conveyor turning point wheels 5 and 6. After the trays have been filled with starch in zone B they are passed to Zone C whereat Ithe starch is levelled, and from zone C the trays pass to zone 5D where starch which has fallen between the rtrays and on the edges of the trays is brushed or". From Zone D the trays pass :to zone E -where the starch is imprinted with depressions corresponding to the shape `and disposition of the confectionery article to be cast therein. From the printing zone E the trays are conveyed out of the machine in the direction of the arrow F to a depositor (not shown) whereat the mould cav- .ities in the starch are filled with the confectionery article material. After deposition the trays, in known manner, `are stacked land passed into a cooling room yfrom whence they are taken to be fed to the beginning of the machine as already described.

The present Iinvention is concerned with the construction and operation of the sieving and screening means 3, which will now be described in detail.

The general arrangement and functioning of the sieving and screening means 3 is conventional, in that it consists of a framework 7 which is virbrated by means of an eccentric drive 8 and which carries along its length a series of sieves or screens 9, 10, 11, i2 and 13 (see FIG- URES 2 and 2a), the object of which is to retain the confectionery articles while permitting the starch to pass through for recovery. Due to the vibration and inclination of the framework 7 the confectionery articles progress downwards along its length and are discharged at its end over a discharge chute 14 and are carried away by conveyor means (not shown). The starch vpassing through the sieve or screen means 9-13 and through further sieve means i5 located therebelow y(see FIGURE 3) conventionally referred to as tailings screens, and serving to prevent any comparatively large particles, such as scraps or broken pieces of the cast confectionery being recovered along with the starch.

The sieve or screen means 9-13 may be of the kind disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 835,570, iiled August 24,1959, and are conventionally made up in sections, forming sub-frame 1'6 of the main sieving and screening framework 7, so that these sectional sub-frames 16 may be remotved for replacement or cleaning. The manner in which the sieve means 9-13 are mounted will be described hereinafter.

Heretofore it has been necessary, in order to remove the sieve or screen sub-frames 16, along with the main framework 7, to disconnect the framework 7 from its reciprocating gear 8 and bring lthe whole framework 7 out through the end 17 of the machine. Since the framework 7 is a long structure, for example, some ten to eleven feet long, it has been necessary to have a clear space of over this length available beyond the end 17 of the machines, or at least have this space readily clearable, so that waste of space, or at the best great inconvenience, results.

According to the present invention, the framework 7 is removable bodily from the side of the machine as will be described hereafter, from the operative position as shown in FIGURES 1 and la to the displaced position shown in FIGURE. 4, in which the sieve-subframes 16 may be easily removed by passing them along the length of the framework 7 and removing them at the end 18 of the framework. In this way, use is made of the space available in the form of the existing gangway at the side of the machine.

Y In order to accomplish this, the sieving and screening framework 7 is supported adjacent each end on pairs of rollers 19 carried onpedestal supports, indicated at 20 and 21 and described hereafter. The rollers 19 engage contact plates 22 provided on the underside of the framework 7 and permit the framework to be reciprocated for a limited throw on the rollers 19 by the action of the reciprocating gear 8. 'Ille rollers 19 are carried on a hori` zontal shaft 23, spanning the width of the machine, each shaft 23 having its ends supported in end blocks 24 which are normally located between a pair of pointed set screws 25, 26 mounted in the structure of each pedestal 20, 21, see FIGURES and 5a and 6 and 6a.

The end blocks 24, however, are also each provided with pairs of rollers 27, 28 on horizontal axes at right angles to the shaft 23 and the rollers 27, 2S are adapted to engage and be supported upon a pair of fixed rails 29 and extensible rails 30 also carried on the pedestals 20, 21 respectively and extending at right angles to the longitudinal extent of the framework 7 (Le. at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of the framework 7). Thus the shaft 23, end blocks 24 and roller pairs 27, 28 together constitute trolley means by which the framework 7 can be l supported onthe rails 29 and130 for framework removal and replacement purposes as described hereafter.

When the framework 7 is in its operative position in the machine, each shaft 23 carrying the rollers 19, -is as mentioned above, supported between the pointed set screws 25 and 26. The set screws 2S and 26 are carried in cross yokes 31 and 32 of which the yoke 32 is permanently fixed on and between posts 33 at the inward end of the structure and the yoke 31 removably secured to posts 34 at the other end of the structure. The removable yoke 31 is located and -held on the posts 34 by means of dowel pins 35 such that when the set screw 25 is unscrewed suiciently the yoke 31 can be removed together with the set screw 25 to provide a clear passage for the rollers 27, 28 and end block 2:4 when pulled out on the fixed and extensible rails 29, 30 as will Ibe described. The set screws 25, 26 normally support the shaft 23 so that the rollers 27, 28 are just in contact with the rails 29, 30 but bear no load. Thus when the set screw 25 is unscrewed, the Weight of the framework 7 carried by the rollers 19 and shaft 23 is transferred to the rollers 27, 28 and rails 29,30.

When it is desired to remove the framework 7 from the machine, the framework 7 is locked at one point to one of the end blocks 24 associated with the rails 29, 30 on the pedestal 20 or 21, e.g. by a substantially vertically displaceable bolt 36 carried by the framework 7 (see adjacent pedestal 20 in FIGURE la and FIGURE 4) which is adapted to enter a hole 3-7 in the block 24 below (see right hand end of FIGURE 6a), whereafter there is carried out the further initial steps of disconnecting the reciprocatory drive from the eccentric device 8, disconnecting the starch conveyor 4 and removing thedischarge chute 14. The set screws 25, associated with both pedestals 20 and 21, are then unscrewed and removed together with their yokes 31 as described above. The pairs of rails 33 which are linked at each end into a unitary structure by cross members 38 and 39 are then extended drawerwise so that they project to the side of the machine in effective prolongation of the fixed pairs of rails 29, see FIGURE 4. The ends of the rails 30, when extended, are supported by folding legs 40 in the case of the pedestal 20 (which legs are also shown in FIGURES 5, 5a and 6, 6a) and a folding leg 41 in the case of the lower pedestal 21. The framework 7 continues to be supported by contact of the rollers 27 on the rails 29 and can then be drawn sideways out of the machine, as shown in FIGURE 4, the roilers `28 running on the extended rails 30.

When the framework 7 has been puled out into an accessible position to one side of the machine, the sieve subframes 9 to 13 and the tailings screens 15 may be withdrawn from the framework 7 through its lower end 18. The sieve sub-frames 9 to 13 may comprise brush members of the kind described in the aforementioned application having end spigots 45 mounted in frame bars 46 which are supported on ledges 42 (see FIGURE 3) on the side members 43 of the framework 7. The tailings screens 15 may be secured to side frame members 47 mounted on ledges 44 secured beneath the side members 43, the various screen sub-frames abutting in end-to-end relationship so that all are secured in situ by locking pressure, applied by any convenient mechanism to the end of the lowermost sub-frame 13. When the locking mechanism is released the sub-frames can be drawn out one after another.

In order to restore the framework 7, the reverse procedure is adopted.

I claim:

l. A. mounting for sieve or screen means in a confectionery casting machine comprising a rigid framework adapted to support a plurality of longitudinally aligned sieve or screen means, and means for supporting the framework in the machine adjacent each end of the framework on bearing assemblies comprising bearing members supporting said framework 4and having supporting wheels running on extensible rails, the disposition of the rails and the direction of extensibility being at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said framework, so that the framework can be bodily displaced into and out of its operative position in the machine on said rails by a movement outwards to one side of the machine transverse to the direction of alignment of the sieve or screen means.

2. A mounting for sieve or screen means as claimed in yclaim l, wherein the bearing members also carry secondary rollers on axes parallel to said rails, the secondary rollers engaging means on the underside of the framework so as to permit limited reciprocation of the lframework in the machine and relative to said bearing members.

3. A mounting for sieve or screen means as claimed in claim 2, wherein displaceable bolt means are provided between the framework and one of said bearing members to lock the framework to said bearing members and prevent any movement of the framework relative to said bearing members when it is required to move the framework sideways out of the machine on said rails.

4. A mounting for sieve or screen means as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rails are carried on fixed pedestal structures, a pair of xed rails and a pair of movable rails, providing the extensibility of the rails, being provided on the pedestal structures adjacent each end of the framework.

5 A mounting for sieve or screen means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the secondary rollersrof each bearing assembly are carried on a common shaft on which the bearing members are also carried, the common shaft being located and secured, during normal operation of the machine between two axially disposed, opposed set-screws mounted on the pedestal structure, the set screw and mounting therefor at the end of the common shaft on the side of the machine, to which the framework is displaceable on the rails when extended, being bodily removable to permit the common shaft and the bearing members thereon to be drawn out on said supporting Wheels over the extended rails.

6. A mounting for sieve or screen means as claimed in claim 5, wherein the outward end of each movable pair of rails carries pivotal leg means which can be swung down to support the end of the rails on the ground when the rails are fully extended.

7. A mounting for sieve or screen means for a confectionery casting machine comprising an elongated parallelsided framework, shelf means on the framework, sieve and screen means supportable on said shelf means and disposed in said framework in end-to-end relationship,

trolley means extending at right angles to the length of said framework and disposed adjacent each end of said Vframework, roller means on said trolley means engaging the underside of said framework to permit reciprocating movement of said framework in the direction of its length and relative to said trolley means, means for reciprocating said framework, fixed rails disposed below and parallel with each trolley means, rail-engaging rollers on said trolley means adapted to run on said rails, movable rails associated with said fixed rails in telescopic relationship so as to provide an extensible rail arrangement over which said trolley means can run and means for locking said framework to one of said trolley means to prevent reciprocating movement relative thereto, the arrangement being such that the framework can be moved sideways out of the machine on said trolley means over the extended rail arrangement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,507,930 Perkins May 16, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 194,850 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1923 371,124 Great Britain Apr. 2l, 1932 

